Machine for making file folders



Aug. 3, 1937.

0. J. OLM ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 19 35 INVENTORS 0504,? J. OL/W VIC 70,? L/A/DEQ ATTORNEY.

Aug. 3, 1937. o. J. OLM El AL 2,038,805

' MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS Filed Jan. 2, '1935 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.

Aug. 3, 1937. o, J. OLM El AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS Filed Jan. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTORS v v 05072 J. 01.44

u/cro L/A/DEQ A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 3, 1937. o. J. OLM ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FILE FOLDERS 2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.

mMm NLD m w mJ Q Wm x6 0W ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 3, 1957 UNM'EE STATES messes PATENT @iFiiCE Oscar J. 01m and Victor Linder, Minneapolis, Minn; said Linder assignor to said 01m Application January 2, 1935, Serial No. 114

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for forming file folders.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple compact machine for folding a sheet of paper to form a file folder and a reinforced edge for said folder simultaneously. It is .a further object of this invention to provide simple and efficient means for folding a sheet of paper to form a file folder and tab cutting one edge of said file folder in any desired position in one continuous operation. It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and efficient means for insuring accurate alignment of the sheets ofpaper as they are fed to the folding means. It is a further object of this invention to provide positive means for removing the portions of the sheet cut to form the tab. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file folding machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away to facilitate illustration of the structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line VV of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view of the adhesive feeding mechanism;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the adhesive applying mechanism;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line X-X of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective View of the folding mechanism looking from the feeding end of the machine; and

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism for synchronizing the feeding movement of the folding mechanism and the drying mechanism.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates any suitable frame work supporting a motor 3 and including a pair of channel members 4. The driving action of the motor is controlled by any 55 suitable clutch means as indicated in Figure 1 (Cl. 93-1) i at 3'. A feeding chute 5 is pivotally secured to the frame work at one end of the channel members 4 and is supported in tilted position by the pivoted arm 6 which is provided with a plurality of notches 1 adapted to adjust the inclination of the feeding chute. The sheets of paper or similar material are fed by gravity to a pair of feed rollers 8 and 9. The lower roller 8 is mounted on a shaft Iii supported by brackets H which are supported on a rod 92. The upper roller 9 is mounted on a shaft l3 which is carried by a plurality of upstanding supports it. The. shaft I3 is driven by means of a chain drive. i5 and has a gear wheel l6 at one end which meshes with a gear (not shown) to drive the shaft It on which the lower feed roller18 is mounted. The upper feed roller 9 is provided with a plurality of rubber inserts I! to facilitate the removal of individual sheets from the chute.

The feed rollers 8 and 9 deposit the individual sheets on a platform i8 formed of a plurality of spaced bars [9. A pair of chains 20 mounted on sprocket wheels 2|. and 22 move the individual sheets from the platform to the scoring mechanism by means of a pair of lugs 23 which project above the platform H8. The lugs 23 are aligned so as to insure accurate feeding of the individual sheets to the scoring mechanism.

The scoring mechanism includes a driven shaft 24 which carries a pair of scoring rollers 25 and 26. The rollers 25 and 26 may be secured in any desired position along the length of the shaft 24,

by means of conventional set screws, not shown. The rollers 25 and 26 cooperate with complementary rollers (not shown) on the shaft 21 to score the sheet in any desired manner. The spacing between the shafts 24 and 2'! may be adjusted by means of the bolts 28 in accordance with the thickness of the stock being fed through the machine. A pair of rollers 29 and 30 receives the sheets from the chain feed 20 and maintains the alignment of the sheets during the scoring operation.

After the sheet is properly scored it is fed through the die cutting mechanism which comprises a pair of spaced shafts 3i and 32 which are driven by the motor 3 through any suitable mechanism. The relative adjustment of the shafts 3i and 32 is regulated by means of a pair of bolts 33 and springs 34 (see Figure 5). The shaft 32 carries a pair of rotary tab cutting die supports 35. These die supports may be secured in any desired position on the shaft 32 by means of set screws 36. The shaft is long enough so that if the sheets are not to be tabcut, the cutting dies may be moved out beyond the path of travel of the sheets.

The set screw also permits rotary adjustment of the tab cutting dies so that if the position of the tab is to be changed, it is necessary only to loose the set screw, rotate the tab cutting die support to the correct position, and tighten the set screw. If the size of the tab is to be changed, the cutting die 31 is removed by means of the screws 38, and a die of the desired size ismounted on the support 35 in the same manner.

The sheets pass from the rotary die cutters to the strike-off mechanism shown in detail in Figure 9. This mechanism includes a pair of driven shafts 39 and 40. A collar 4| mounted on. the shaft 39 has its edge substantially in alignment with the tab cutting die 31. A segment 42 of a cooperating collar is secured on the shaft 46 by means of a set screw 43 so that the inner edge of the segment abuts the outer edge of the collar 4| and their peripheries overlap slightly. The segment is adjusted so that the front edge 44 strikes the portion 45 of the edge of the sheet 46 that has been cut by the rotary die and depresses it, so that the front edge 41 of the cut away portion strikes the underside of an arm 48 and is removed from the sheet 46 thereby. The cut away portion .45 falls into the trough 49 shown in Figure 1. The arm 48 is provided with a split end 56 fitting overa rod 5| and secured thereto by means of a bolt 52. The rod 5| is mounted on the channel members 4 in any suitable manner. The arm 48 may be adjusted by loosening the bolt 52.

When it is desired to form a reinforced edge on ,the file folder, adhesive is applied along one edge of the sheets of paper or similar material being fed through the machine. The mechanism for applying the adhesive includes a reservoir 53 supported by means, of a pair of rods 54 and 55 which are supported by means of an arm 56 having a split end secured on. a rod 51 by a bolt 58. The rod 51 is supported by the channel members 4 in any suitable manner. The arm 56 I .is also splitin proximity to the rod 55 so that it may be loosened or tightened against the rod 55 by means of a bolt 59. Adhesive of any suitable consistency is fed into the reservoir 53 by means of a bottle or other receptacle 66 supportedin an inverted position by the nozzle 6|.

The rod 54 has a. wheel 62 mounted on one end. A belt 63 (Figure 2) passes around'the wheel 62 and a similar wheel 64 mounted on the end of the drivenshaft 46. An idler wheel 65, mounted on .the rod 51 by means of an angularly adjustable arm 65, is adapted to take up the slack in the belt 63 when it is desired to drive the wheel 62 and thereby rotate the rod 54. A roller 66 is mounted on the other end of the rod 54 so as tobe approximately half submerged in the reservoir. 53. The rod 55 has its end 61 cut away to provide a sharp edge near the periphery of the roller 66. The end 6'! may be .adjusted to'regulate the quantity of adhesive retained on the surface of the roller 66 by rotating the rod 55 by means of a. lever 68 (Figure 7) when the bolt 59 is loosened.

The adhesive is taken from the roller 66 by a roller 69 mounted on the end of the shaft 49 opposite that on which the member 42 is secured. The periphery of the roller 69 is provided with a plurality of parallel grooves 18 (Figures 2 and 4) The roller 89 is also preferably knurled to facilitate transfer of the adhesive from the roller 66 to the roller 69.

The rod 5| carries an arm 1| (Figures 4 and 8) so adjusted that a small roller 12 supported by the arm H is positioned between the roller 69 and the shaft 39. The roller 12 is provided with a plurality of projections 73 fitting in the grooves 16. The end of the arm H is curved slightly, as indicated at 14, to facilitate guiding the sheets of material between the rollers 69 and 12. As the sheets are fed between the rollers 69 and '52, the projections 13 force the sheets against the roller 69 and cause a predetermined quantity of adhesive to be applied in a straight line to the sheet adjacent one edge.

If the folders being made are not to have a 'reinforced'edge, it is necessary only to remove the bolt 58 and belt 63 and then the reservoir 53 may be removed. The entire adhesive feeding mechanism (shown most clearly in Figure 7) is carried by the arm 56, and the only connection between this arm and the rest of the machine is where the split end of the arm 56 is secured to the rod 51 by means of the bolt 58. The ease of removal is important also because it permits cleaning of the adhesive applying mechanism. The arm 1| may also be easily removed to permit cleaning the roller 12.

The side of the machine equipped with the adhesive applying mechanism is also provided with a strike-off mechanism to remove the die cut portions from the folder when the rotary die on that side of the machine is in use. This strike-ofi mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figure lO. A rod or stifi wire 15 carried by a longitudinal supporting member 16 is adjusted so that its free end I! presses the edge of the sheet 46 so that the portion 18, which has been cut by the rotary die, strikes the underside of an arm 19. The arm 19 has a split end and is mounted on a rod by means of a bolt 8| passing through the split end. The die cut portions 18 of the folder are removed by the arm 79 and drop into trough 49 the same as the die cut portions 45. This strike off mechanism may be rendered inoperative by merely adjusting the rod or wire 15 so that its end does not depress the edge of the sheet 46. The arm 39 may also be moved out of the path of travel of the sheets.

The folding mechanism includes the longitudinal supporting member 16 and a similar member 82 carried by the rods 5'! and 88. A second pair of longitudinal supporting members 16' and 82' is positioned directly below the members 16 and 82 and is carried by the rods 5| and 83. These rods are mounted on the channel members 4 in any suitable manner. The sheets are fed through the folding mechanism by-means of a pair of belts 84 rotated by means of a pair of rollers 85 mounted on a shaft 86 at one end of the folding mechanism, and another pair of rollers 81 mounted on a shaft 88 at the other end of the folding mechanism. The belts 84 are kept taut by means of a plurality of idler rollers 89 mounted on arms 99 pivotally secured to the longitudinal supporting members 16 and 82. The shafts 86 and 88 are mounted on the channel members 4, and are both driven by a chain drive 9| in synchronization with the chain drive 55 so that the feeding movement of a sheet through the machine will be continuous and uninterrupted.

The members 16 and 82 support a plurality of spaced rollers 92 each of which is urged downwardly by means of a spring 93 engaging a pin 94, fixed to the member 76 or 82, and one end of an arm 95 on which the roller 92 is mounted.

The members I6 and 82' each carry a series of rollers 03 adapted to cooperate with the rollers 92 to press sheets of folded material therebetween.

The rod 51 supports a pair of flat bars 91 and 98 positioned just above the belts 84 so that sheets being fed through the machine on the belts 8 pass immediately under the flat bars 91 and 08. Another pair of fiat bars 99 and I00 positioned directly under the bars 91 and 98 help support the sheets being moved by the belts 84. As shown in Figure 11, a pair of curved guide rods I 0! and I02 cause the sheets to be bent against the outer edge of the flat bar 91. The flat bar 01 is so positioned that the fold is substantially medial of the sheets. Another curved guide bar I03 on the other side of the machine causes the other edge of each sheet to be folded against the outer edge of the flat bar 08.

The guide rods IOI, I02 and I03 are each supported by means of a depending arm I04 (Figure l) fitting in a split bracket I05 carried by the rod 03. Any of the guide rods IOI, I02 or I03 may be moved out of operative position or may be removed from the machine when it is desired to omit one or both of the folds. When the guide rods are in operative position the sheets are folded practically fiat at the end of the guide rods. The guide rods terminate adjacent the ends of the conveyor belts 84.

The shaft carries a pair of rollers I06 in line with the folds formed in the sheets fed through the machine. A rod I0! supported by a pair of brackets I08 secured to the channel members t is positioned near the end of the folding mechanism. The rod I01 has a pair of arms I00 secured thereto by means of a bolt H0 passing through the split end II I of each arm. The free end of each arm I09 carries a pressure roller II2 positioned directly above the rollers I06 to apply pressure at the lines of fold of the sheets being fed through the machine.

The pressure drying unit, indicated generally at H3 in Figure 1, is secured in position relative to the folding mechanism by means of a rod IM which is adapted to be inserted in registering apertures in one of the channel members 4 and a channel member H5 on the pressure drying unit. The channel members II 5 are mounted on any suitable frame work I I6.

The channel members II5 support a pair of rollers Ill and H8 at opposite ends. A plurality of tie rods II5 (Figure 2) is provided to hold the channel members II5 together. A ratchet wheel H9 is mounted outside the channel member M5 on the shaft I20 which carries the roller III. The ratchet wheel, and consequently the roller III, is rotated in step by step movement by means of a pawl I 2| secured to one arm of a bell crank I22 pivoted on the channel member H5. A rod' I23 secured to the other arm of the bell crank has its opposite end connected to an eccentric I24 mounted on the rod 88 so that the step by step movement of the ratchet wheel II9 bears a predetermined relationship to the rate of movement of the sheets through the rest of the mechanism.

A relatively wide conveyor belt I25 is mounted around the rollers III and 8. An idler roller I26 mounted on the frame work IIB keeps the belt I25 taut so that it will move when the roller II'I turns. A plurality of rollers I21 positioned under the belt I25 keep the belt I25 from sagging.

A series of pressure rollers I28 mounted between a pair of channel members I29 isadapted to be positioned over the belt I25. The channel members H5 and I29 are each provided with a plurality of apertures I30 so that when they are arranged with any sets of apertures in registration with each other, a plurality of rods I3I may be inserted through the registering apertures to maintain the pressure unit in the desired position. This position may vary from time to time, depending upon atmospheric conditions and the drying characteristics of the adhesive used. Ifthe adhesive sets rapidly, the pressure unit is moved closer to the folding mechanism sothat the pressure is applied before the adhesive has set. If the adhesive sets slowly, the pressure unit is moved nearer the delivery end of the pressure drying unit II3 so that the adhesive will have more time to start drying before the pressure is applied.

The delivery end of the pressure drying unit H3 is provided with a board I32 which is supported at an angle to the conveyor belt I25. The inclined board I32 serves as a stop member, and the folders are stacked up on the board by the conveyor belt I25. The folders are picked from the board I32 by hand and packed into boxes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised a simple and efficient machine for feeding, creasing, folding, reinforcing and tab cutting sheets of paper in one continuous operation. The mechanism is so arranged that any of the above steps may be eliminated from the process. When it is desired to reinforce one edge of the folder and to tab cut the reinforced edge, it is preferred to run the sheets through the machine once to form the reinforced edge, and then to run them through a second time to tab cut the reinforced edges and to perform any other desired steps. If one edge is to be reinforced, and the other edge is tobe tab out, or if both edges are to be tab cut and neither edge reinforced, all the necessary operations are performed in a single passage through the machine.

The pressure drying unit H3 is preferably arranged at right angles to the folding mechanism as illustrated, in order that the pressure may be applied transverse to the lines of fold. The folders are overlapped on the belt I25 so that the pressure is increased. The pressure drying unit may be separated from the rest of the mechanism when no adhesive is applied to the folder.

We claim:

' 1. In a machine for forming file folders, sheet feeding means, means for applying adhesive along one edge of a sheet of folder material, mean for simultaneously folding said sheet along two parallel lines, said last mentioned means including means for folding said sheet adjacent said edge, and means for applying pressure to said folded sheet, to adhere said edge to one surface of said folder.

2. In a file folder machine, means for applying adhesive to one edge of a sheet of folder material, means for folding said edge against one surface of said sheet, and means for applying pressure to said folded edge while said adhesive is setting, said last mentioned means being adjustable to vary the time allowed for drying in accordance with atmospheric conditions.

3. In a file folder machine, a conveyor adapted to receive folders immediately after the folding operation, and a series of pressure rollers on said conveyor for applying pressure to the folders, said series of pressure rollers being mo able as a unit to vary the time interval between I the folding and pressing operations.

4. In a file folder machine, means for feeding sheets of folder material from a chute at regular intervals, means for folding said sheets to form file folders, and means synchronized with said feeding means for, cutting one longitudinal edge of said sheets to form an index tab 6. In a file folder machine,'means for feeding sheets of folder material to folding mechanism, means to apply'adhesive adjacent one edge of said sheets, means to fold said edge against the body of the sheets to reinforce the edge of the folder, and a rotary die adapted to tab out said reinforced edge.

- 7. In a file folder machine, means to apply adhesive adjacent one edge of a sheet of folder -material, means to fold said edge to provide a reinforced edge, and means to apply pressure to said folders during the setting of said adhesive, said last mentioned means being movable in relation to said adhesive applying means to regulate the time interval between the application of said adhesive and the application of said pressure.

OSCAR J. OLM. VICTOR LINDER. 

